need help lowering..
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Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 42
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From: philly
Car: 87 iroc-z
Engine: 355 tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 4.10
need help lowering..
whats a somewhat cheap way to lower my 87 iroc 2-3 inches? i want it to be a pebble pusher (; thanks, justin
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 90
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From: Lo$t Angele$
Car: 1987 Chevy Camaro Z28
Engine: 305, 4bbl, A/C, T-Tops
Transmission: 700R4 4speed Automatic
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 42
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From: philly
Car: 87 iroc-z
Engine: 355 tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 4.10
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 402
Likes: 13
From: Evansville, IN
Car: 1984 Trans Am WS6
Engine: LG4
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.23 LSD
Re: need help lowering..
It is safe if it's done properly- don't heat the spring up and index them correctly. If you go too low the springs may not seat fully at full suspension droop and you may want limiting straps. Running that low will put the camber in the wrong spot of the camber curve, cause bump steer and cause more body roll assuming that the car doesn't get higher rate springs, bigger bars, or sit on the bump stops. Drop spindles are the "right" way, leaving suspension geometry correct. Weight jacks allow for adjustment to get the car to a point where it offers a compromise between decent suspension geometry and a low center of gravity and being slammed.
But, if you insist on doing it just for looks on an extreme budget, I'd cut some stiff MOOG springs (you generally want a 5:1 spring rate ratio front to rear) with between 700# to 1000# up front depending on whether you want ride quality or handling, and cut the bump stops or get strut mounted progressive stops. If you still have money, get taller strut mounts to help your struts live longer and an adjustable panhard bar so that your axle isn't off center.
But, if you insist on doing it just for looks on an extreme budget, I'd cut some stiff MOOG springs (you generally want a 5:1 spring rate ratio front to rear) with between 700# to 1000# up front depending on whether you want ride quality or handling, and cut the bump stops or get strut mounted progressive stops. If you still have money, get taller strut mounts to help your struts live longer and an adjustable panhard bar so that your axle isn't off center.
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From: Central Texas
Car: GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Aussie 9-bolt/3.27 posi
Re: need help lowering..
Cutting springs is perfectly safe when done correctly. Or have cars with cut springs from the 1940s (or earlier) through the day they started selling Lowering Springs always crash because of the cut springs? No, they didn't crash when they were cut CORRECTLY. Or are you saying that people like Herb Adams & Chip Foose are doing hack jobs & building unsafe cars?
Re: need help lowering..
Cutting springs is perfectly safe when done correctly. Or have cars with cut springs from the 1940s (or earlier) through the day they started selling Lowering Springs always crash because of the cut springs? No, they didn't crash when they were cut CORRECTLY. Or are you saying that people like Herb Adams & Chip Foose are doing hack jobs & building unsafe cars?
Herb Adams and Chip Foose are car building professionals.
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Posts: 529
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From: Rapid City, SD
Car: '83 z/28
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: Stock?
Re: need help lowering..
Lowering springs. But you NEED an adjustable panhard bar. I set my panhard bar, then lowered it, drove it when the axle was pushed to the side, ya it felt like crap, when I floored it, the car wanted to turn right.
If you can't afford springs, then atleast get a adjustable panhard bar. Mine was like 80 bucks shipped from founders. And it's super beefy. Then grab the angle grinder, and lop a couple coils off of your stock springs.
You will soon realize that you need some better springs after you do that though.
If you can't afford springs, then atleast get a adjustable panhard bar. Mine was like 80 bucks shipped from founders. And it's super beefy. Then grab the angle grinder, and lop a couple coils off of your stock springs.
You will soon realize that you need some better springs after you do that though.
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iTrader: (5)
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From: Central Texas
Car: GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Aussie 9-bolt/3.27 posi
Re: need help lowering..
And they cut springs NO DIFFERENTLY than the average Joe can. A 3.5" grinder keeping heat to a minimum.
Herb describes it in his book & Chip has done it on cable TV yet we are 'hacks' when we do the same thing. Cutting springs with a torch IS a hack job. Doing it correctly with a thin cutting wheel on a grinder is not.
Herb describes it in his book & Chip has done it on cable TV yet we are 'hacks' when we do the same thing. Cutting springs with a torch IS a hack job. Doing it correctly with a thin cutting wheel on a grinder is not.
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Joined: May 2002
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From: Everett, WA
Car: 87' IROC
Engine: L98
Transmission: T56
Re: need help lowering..
And they cut springs NO DIFFERENTLY than the average Joe can. A 3.5" grinder keeping heat to a minimum.
Herb describes it in his book & Chip has done it on cable TV yet we are 'hacks' when we do the same thing. Cutting springs with a torch IS a hack job. Doing it correctly with a thin cutting wheel on a grinder is not.
Herb describes it in his book & Chip has done it on cable TV yet we are 'hacks' when we do the same thing. Cutting springs with a torch IS a hack job. Doing it correctly with a thin cutting wheel on a grinder is not.
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iTrader: (5)
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 4
From: Central Texas
Car: GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Aussie 9-bolt/3.27 posi
Re: need help lowering..
Really? People were doing it CORRECTLY before Foose was even born. He has no "magical power" way of doing it any differently than the people he learned it from nor from the way that YOU *I*, or ANYBODY could do it.
Seriously.....If you "bow" down to him regarding cutting springs & think that YOU cannot do the exact same thing? You are delusional.
I was cutting springs CORRECTLY and putting them under Autocross cars before Chip was "famous" so I didn't learn it from him. But rather from the Herb Adams book.
Last edited by BlackenedBird; Apr 30, 2012 at 11:23 PM.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4,449
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From: Everett, WA
Car: 87' IROC
Engine: L98
Transmission: T56
Re: need help lowering..
I hope that was said in tongue-in-cheek. If not......
Really? People were doing it CORRECTLY before Foose was even born. He has no "magical power" way of doing it any differently than the people he learned it from nor from the way that YOU *I*, or ANYBODY could do it.
Seriously.....If you "bow" down to him regarding cutting springs & think that YOU cannot do the exact same thing? You are delusional.
I was cutting springs CORRECTLY and putting them under Autocross cars before Chip was "famous" so I didn't learn it from him. But rather from the Herb Adams book.
Really? People were doing it CORRECTLY before Foose was even born. He has no "magical power" way of doing it any differently than the people he learned it from nor from the way that YOU *I*, or ANYBODY could do it.
Seriously.....If you "bow" down to him regarding cutting springs & think that YOU cannot do the exact same thing? You are delusional.
I was cutting springs CORRECTLY and putting them under Autocross cars before Chip was "famous" so I didn't learn it from him. But rather from the Herb Adams book.

But yes, I agree with you. Lol.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: philly
Car: 87 iroc-z
Engine: 355 tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 4.10
Re: need help lowering..
Lowering springs. But you NEED an adjustable panhard bar. I set my panhard bar, then lowered it, drove it when the axle was pushed to the side, ya it felt like crap, when I floored it, the car wanted to turn right.
If you can't afford springs, then atleast get a adjustable panhard bar. Mine was like 80 bucks shipped from founders. And it's super beefy. Then grab the angle grinder, and lop a couple coils off of your stock springs.
You will soon realize that you need some better springs after you do that though.
If you can't afford springs, then atleast get a adjustable panhard bar. Mine was like 80 bucks shipped from founders. And it's super beefy. Then grab the angle grinder, and lop a couple coils off of your stock springs.
You will soon realize that you need some better springs after you do that though.
thanks, justin
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 529
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From: Rapid City, SD
Car: '83 z/28
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: Stock?
Re: need help lowering..
Oh man, when I adjusted the panhard for stock ride height, then lowered it and the axle was about an inch off. When I floored it, the car would jump up and go to the right. I centered it, and it is an incredible difference. Just a good panhard bar instead of the stock one will help handling.
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iTrader: (5)
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Rapid City, SD
Car: '83 z/28
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: Stock?
Re: need help lowering..
No problem, Like I said, I did Intrax springs, and a Founders adjustable panhard bar. And I am insanely pleased with how it handles now. It made a huge difference.
And honestly, I found my intrax springs on Ebay for 60 bucks. And I got my adjustable panhard bar from founders for like 80 or 90 shipped. You don't need to spend big bucks to get good results. Unless you are racing it on a track, running slicks. Then that's a different story.
Only took a couple hours to install them also.
And honestly, I found my intrax springs on Ebay for 60 bucks. And I got my adjustable panhard bar from founders for like 80 or 90 shipped. You don't need to spend big bucks to get good results. Unless you are racing it on a track, running slicks. Then that's a different story.
Only took a couple hours to install them also.
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,852
Likes: 2
From: Scottsdale, AZ
Car: 89 GTA/93 S13/91 Si
Engine: 5.7 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: need help lowering..
if you want still springs..get the moogs and cut em to where you want them to sit
thats what i did
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 42
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From: philly
Car: 87 iroc-z
Engine: 355 tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 4.10





